earlderrbiggers.thehousewithoutakey-第52节

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　〃Not　just　now；〃　said　John　Quincy。　〃Thank　you　so　much。　I'll　see　you　again；　of　course　…〃
　He　dashed　out　on　the　sand。　A　group　of　young　people　under　the　hau　tree　informed　him　that　Carlota　Egan　was　on　the　farthest　float。　Alone？　Well；　no　…　that　naval　lieutenant　…
　He　was；　he　reflected　as　he　hurried　on　toward　the　water；　a　bit　fed　up　with　the　navy。　That　was　hardly　the　attitude　he　should　have　taken；　considering　all　the　navy　had　done　for　him。　But　it　was　human。　And　John　Quincy　was　human　at　last。
　For　an　instant　he　stood　at　the　water's　edge。　His　bathing　suit　was　in　the　dressing…room；　but　he　never　gave　it　a　thought。　He　kicked　off　his　shoes；　tossed　aside　his　coat；　and　plunged　into　the　breakers。　The　blood　of　the　wandering　Winterslips　was　racing　through　his　veins；　hot　blood　that　tropical　waters　had　ever　been　powerless　to　cool。
　Sure　enough；　Carlota　Egan　and　Lieutenant　Booth　were　together　on　the　float。　John　Quincy　climbed　up　beside　them。
　〃Well；　I'm　back；〃　he　announced。
　〃I'll　tell　the　world　you're　back；〃　said　the　lieutenant。　〃And　all　wet；　too。〃
　They　sat　there。　Across　a　thousand　miles　of　warm　water　the　trade　winds　came　to　fan　their　cheeks。　Just　above　the　horizon　hung　the　Southern　Cross；　the　Island　lights　trembled　along　the　shore；　the　yellow　eye　on　Diamond　Head　was　winking。　A　gorgeous　setting。　Only　one　thing　was　wrong　with　it。　It　seemed　rather　crowded。
　John　Quincy　had　an　inspiration。　〃Just　as　I　hit　the　water；〃　he　remarked；　〃I　thought　I　heard　you　say　something　about　my　dive。　Didn't　you　like　it？〃
　〃It　was　rotten；〃　replied　the　lieutenant　amiably。
　〃You　offered　to　show　me　what　was　wrong　with　it；　I　believe？〃
　〃Sure。　If　you　want　me　to。〃
　〃By　all　means；〃　said　John　Quincy。　〃Learn　one　thing　every　day。　That's　my　motto。〃
　Lieutenant　Booth　went　to　the　end　of　the　springboard。　〃In　the　first　place；　always　keep　your　ankles　close　together　…　like　this。〃
　〃I've　got　you；〃　answered　John　Quincy。
　〃And　hold　your　arms　tight　against　your　ears。〃
　〃The　tighter　the　better；　as　far　as　I'm　concerned。〃
　〃Then　double　up　like　a　jackknife；〃　continued　the　instructor。　He　doubled　up　like　a　jackknife　and　rose　into　the　air。
　At　the　same　instant　John　Quincy　seized　the　girl's　hands。　〃Listen　to　me。　I　can't　wait　another　second。　I　want　to　tell　you　that　I　love　you　…〃
　〃You're　mad；〃　she　cried。
　〃Mad　about　you。　Ever　since　that　day　on　the　ferry　…〃
　〃But　your　people？〃
　〃What　about　my　people？　It's　just　you　and　I　…　we'll　live　in　San　Francisco　…　that　is；　if　you　love　me　…〃
　〃Well；　I　…〃
　〃In　heaven's　name；　be　quick。　That　human　submarine　is　floating　around　here　under　us。　You　love　me；　don't　you？　You'll　marry　me？〃
　〃Yes。〃
　He　took　her　in　his　arms　and　kissed　her。　Only　the　wandering　Winterslips　could　kiss　like　that。　The　stay…at…homes　had　always　secretly　begrudged　them　the　acplishment。
　The　girl　broke　away　at　last；　breathless。　〃Johnnie！〃　she　cried。
　A　sputter　beside　them；　and　Lieutenant　Booth　climbed　on　to　the　float；　moist　and　panting。　〃Wha's　that？〃　he　gurgled。
　〃She　was　speaking　to　me；〃　cried　John　Quincy　triumphantly。